Insole



July 28, 1936- E. A. ELLIS y 2,049,159

INSOLE 1111901 Apr11 11, 19:54

Patented July 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My present invention relates to the manufacture of boots and shoes, and particularly to the production of a novel, strong, and eilicient welt for use in the manufacture of welt shoes, and a novel method of making the same.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of welt shoes it has been customary to form a sewing rib around the edge portion of the forepart and shank of the insole and then reinforce this rib by a sheet or layer of canvas applied by cement to the rib and the adjacent surface of the insole to strengthen the sewing rib and to receive an inseam stitching in welt shoe construction.

Various methods of strengthening and reinl5 forcing the rib structure have been utilized but all of the same, so far as I am advised, have, before my present invention, included reinforcements which were applied to the rib or insole after the rib is turned or during the turning of the same.

My invention is directed to an insole structure particularly intended for welt insoles, although capable of use with modifications for welt and turn insoles which will include the sewing rib reinforcing layer as an inherent part of the insole structure.

My invention thus greatly strengthens the sewing rib while permitting extremely thin material to be utilized in the manufacture of my improved 80 welt insole.

A further important feature consists in the simplicity and economy of construction whereby the mere operation of forming and turning up the sewing rib includes the positioning of the reinforcing layer in the rib, thus dispensing with all further handling operations, gemming processes, machines or the like.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a laminated structure with one layer of the insole, for

example, that to be next the foot of the wearerof leather, fibre, or any suitable material; then my reinforcing layer, which may be canvas or other textile material and which constitutes the inner or middle and enclosed layer in the insole structure, and then an outer covering or layer, which may be leather, fibre, paper, rubber, or any other compound.

These three layers constituting the reinforced insole are so constructed and proportioned that a channel can be cut on the rib portion in the material of the sewing, rib surface or layer so that it will not cut deep enough to injure or touch the canvas reinforcing; then the edge portion may be split inthe foot contacting layer below the canvas and the two cut portions then turned upwardly in the vsewing rib with the canvas between them. Furthermore, afterwards if desired. I may subject the channel portion at the base of the rib to a heavy molding or rolling action, which will depress the same, compacting 5 the adjacent material firmly together and giving a good line for a sewing needle to follow in the inseam stitching operation.

I believe that my method of forming an insole and of forming the sewing rib thereon, with an l0 intermediate reinforcing textile material or other strengthening means, and by channeling and splitting, which will in no way injure the intermediate textile layer, is a distinct novelty in this art, and I wish to claim the same herein broadly. 15

Furthermore, the improved shoe structure as made by incorporating my novel insole is also an improvement in the art of boot and shoe manufacture, and I wish to claim the same.

Other features, advantages, and details will 20 be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawing illustrating preferred embodiments,

Fig. l is a view partly in perspective of my 25 improved laminated reinforced insole suitable for McKay or welt and turn work;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in cross-section 30 illustrating the channel and edge-splitting operations;

Fig. 4 is a view in cross-section showing the sewing rib turned into position;

Fig. 5 illustrates the insole after the molding 35 or rolling operation at the base of the rib;

Fig. 6 is a view of my completed welt insole with the built-up welt slightly inclined;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of the welt shoe structure, 40 and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view also on an enlarged scale showing a modified welt shoe structure.

As shown in the drawing, my laminated insole 45 comprises a layer i of leather, or the like, which is to constitute the foot contacting surface of the insole and which may be of any desired thickness since the reinforcing takes the strain of the inseam stitching. The opposite surface 2 and 50 the intermediate reinforcing textile layer 3 are incorporated together to constitute the insole blank, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The surface 2 may be of any desired texture, such as an additional thin leather layer, fibre, paper, or rub- 55 ber, the showing in the drawing illustrating a vulcanized rubber layer for this portion of the insole. By utilizing rubber, or such compound, I obtain the advantage of having a substance which can be made to readily cause the channel from the surface and the split edge portion to adhere rmly when turned upwardly into the sewing rib I0, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

While the insole, as thus made and without any rib-forming action, can be used as a strong McKay insole, I have especially designed it as a welt insole. For this purpose, I form a channel cut 6 on the surface and split the edge at l below the textile reinforcing layer 3, the channel iap 8 formed by the cut 6 and the combined section formed by the edge splitting 1 comprising the portion 9 from the layer I, leaving a feather I2 and when turned upwardly giving the two vulcanized rubber surfaces from the top part 2 in contact a strong reinforced and built-up inseam sewing rib, I with the reinforcement protected and held intermediate the mass of the material surrounding it. In this position I may roll or mold the base of the channel I4 at the bottom to depress the same and more firmly contact the material as well as solidify the reinforcing layer 3 in the outerlayer I to make it a firm guide for the inseam stitching I5.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a still further modified form in which a vulcanized reinforcing and water tight strip 30 is applied, and preferably of vulcanized rubber on the outside of the sewing rib and feather.

With my welt insole as thus formed, it is assembled on a last with the upper materials I6 and I1; the shoe is lasted, the inseam stitching II and welt 20 are secured; the lasted shoe trimmed, the filling 2l applied and the outsole 24 secured by the welt stitching 25, and the shoe completed.

My novel and improved insole thus insures a. better, rmer, and close-fitting inseam stitching, better lasting in the shoe, and an improved shoe structure as the inseam I engages the reinforcing layer 3 .in the very middle and at the very strongest part at the base of the sewing rib, which is of great advantage. A better welt and rib structure is secured which is o1' great strength. In fact, I can utilize very thin split sole leather for either or both layers above and below the reinforcing duck at a vast saving of expense for material alone. Either bre, paper, or other compound or the vulcanized rubber shown in the drawing is suitable for the inner surface, the latter effecting a moisture-proof construction.

A still further moisture-proof construction is secured in the form shown in Fig. 8, wherein the vulcanized rubber layer 30 reinforcing the sewing rib and also the marginal edge of the insole constitutes an additional barrier to the passage of moisture following through the line of stitching.

I claim:

A welt insole comprising a, laminated structure having a top layer, a bottom layer, an intermediate textile reinforcing layer, and a sewing rib formed with the entire thickness of the reinforcing layer between portions cut from each surface layer..

ELMER A. ELLIS. 

